Starting and ignition system



March 11 1924. I 1,486,628

A. E. BUCHENBERG STARTING AND IGNITION SYSTEM Original .Filed ma 21. 1919 INVENTOR. AlvinEBuclzenbelj ATTORNEY PM... Mar. 11, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. I

ALVIN E. BUCHENBEBG, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE ELECTRIC AUTO-LITE COMPANY, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

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Application filed lay 21,1919, Serial No. 298,870. Renewed July 28, 1928.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALVIN E. BUCHEN- mane, a citizen of the United States, residing at Toledo, in the county of Lucas and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Starting and I particularly to a combined startlng (and ignition system forsuch an engine.

In systems involving an internal combustion engine as a prime mover driving an electric generator to charge a storage battery, a motor receiving its energy from the storage battery to start the engine, and an ignition system for the engine also receiving its energy from the battery, it is found that duringthe starting operation when the motor is drawing a relatively heavy current from the battery, the potential difierence across the battery terminals is reduced to such an extent that the induction coil of the ignition system fails to-receive suflicient current to produce a properspark in the engine cylinder. It is an ob ect of this invention to improve the efliciency of the induction coil in such a system, particularly during the starting of the en 'ne, as by providing means whereby the re uctance of the ma netic circuit of the induction coil of sue a system is reduced whenever the circuit of the starting motor is closed.

A further object is to so inter-connect the switch controlling the starting motor with means for decreasing the reluctance of the magnetic circuit of the induction coil, that the said-means is moved to an efiective ition only when the switch is opera to close the motor circuit. 1

Further objects of this invention relate to economies of manufacture and details of construction, as will hereinafter appear from the detailed description to follow.

I accomplish the ob'ects of my invention by the devices described in the following specification, but i't-is evident that the same may be varied. widely without departin from the scope of the invention as pointed out in the appended claims. A structure constituting one embodiment of my invention, which may be the preition Systems, of which I declare the fol owing ferred, is illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming a part thereof, in which: Figure I is a diagrammatic view of a starting system and an ignition system receiving current from a common source, and illustrating one form of the invention.

Figure II is a plan on a larger scale of a detail of the apparatus shown in Figure I. Figure III is a side view of a detail of a modification.

Figure IV is a plan of. the modification shown in Figure III.

Fi ure V 1s a view similar'to Figure IV, but s owing a further modification.

' In the drawing, similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to Figure I, a storage battery 5, rounded at one terminal, is connected at its other terminal to a starting circuit 6 and to an ignitioncircuit 7. The starting circuit 6 includes a high torque series starting motor 8 having a series field winding 9, the opposite end of its circuit bein grounded at 10. Thismotor is controlled by a push button switch 12 having a shank 13 car ing a spring 14 to keep the switch normal y open.

The ignition circuit 7 is controlled by a switch 15 and includes a cam driven inter rupter 16 in series with the primary of an induction coil 17, having primary and secand we 1 known manner. A yoke 20 of magnetic material is mounted on pivots 21 to swing in such a manner that the end portions of its two arms swing adjacent to the ends of the induction coils. This yoke 20 has an arm 22 to which is pivoted one end of arod 23 pivoted at its other end to one arm 24 of a bell crank lever, whose other arm 25 is ivotally secured to the switch shank 13. .E sgring 26 connecting the upper" arm of the yo e 20 with a stat1onary su port, not shown, serves to hold the yo e normally in the retracted position shown in Figure H.

In the modification shown by Figures III a and IV, a segmental shaped plate 30 of magnetic material takes the place of the yoke 20 j T" w -31; nigure netic yoke takes the position illustrated by Figure II in which position the reluctance ofthe magnetic circuit of the induction coil is not materially decreased thereby. When the switch 12 is depressed to start the motor, the downward motion of the switch is co m- Inunicated through the bell crank lever and the rod 23 to rotate the yoke 20 'to bring its two arms adjacent to the ends of the induction coil. In this position the reluctance of the magnetic circuit of the induction coil is reduced to such 'an extent and the eflicien'cy of the coil accordingly increased that even though the current taken from the storage battery is less than that necessary for proper ignition during the normal running conditions, a sufficiently strong ignition spark is nevertheless obtained. As soon as the engine begins to operate under it own power, the starting switch is released and the magnetic yoke is automatically withdrawn from the coil.

-While I have described my invention in more or less detail as being embodied in certain precise forms, I do not desire or intend to be limited thereto, as on the contrary, my invention contemplated broadly all proper changes, as well as omission of immaterial elements, and the substitution of equivalents therefor, as circumstances may suggest or necessity render expedient.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Let- 5 ters Patent, is:

1 Ina system of the class described, the combination of a fstartingfmotor, a-f switch therefor,an induction coil, a source of energy connected to supply both said motor and said coil, and means operatively connected with nected with said battery in parallel with said 06- coil, a switch for controlling the circuit of said motor, magnetic means adapted to be moved into a position to increase the permer ability of the coil, and a connection. between said switch and said magnetic means whereby when the switch is operated, the efiiciency of the coil is increased.

4. In a system of the class described, the combination of a source of energy, a starting motor and a controlling switch in circuit therewith, an ignition s stem comprising an interrupter and an in uction coil also in circuit with said source, said induction coil having a core and a ma netic member movably mounted to partia ly bridge the 0 ends of said core and an operative connection between said switch and said magnetic member whereby when said switch is closed the magnetic memberis moved to a position to partially bridge the ends of said core and the 35 efiectiveness of said coil increased.

In testimony whereof, I ailix my signature.

ALVIN E. BUGHENBERG. 

